On December 6, CEOs nationwide
will come to Washington, DC, for a high-level meeting with top administration
officials to press for greater funding for research and development and
a greater focus on science and mathematics education.

During the summit, which is
being hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, CEOs will discuss the
competitiveness challenges their companies face and hold private meetings
with cabinet officers to discuss specific policy options to address those
challenges. Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) initiated this summit. Participants
will include Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, (R-NY), chairman, House Science
Committee; Congressman Vernon Ehlers, (R-MI), chairman, House Environment,
Technology and Standards Subcommittee; Richard K. Templeton, President
and CEO, Texas Instruments; James G. Berges, Retired President and Senior
Advisor, Emerson; David Sampson, deputy secretary of commerce; Gov. John
Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers; and Dana
Mead, retired CEO of Tenneco and chairman of the MIT Board of Trustees.
Samuel Bodman, secretary of energy; Elaine Cho, secretary of labor; Carlos
Gutierrez, secretary of commerce; and Arden Bement, director, National
Science Foundation, will participate in the private sessions.

The event is hosted by the
American Electronics Association (AeA), Business Roundtable, Council on
Competitiveness, National Association of Manufacturers, Northern Virginia
Technology Council, and George Mason University.

The NSB will hear
from invited experts nationwide as it begins to develop the Congressionally-mandated
NSB Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Mathematics, and
Technology. This commission will be charged with formulating a national
strategy for implementing an effective long-term approach to K-16 STEM
education.

Buy some last-minute
holiday gifts that will benefit you and your students this year or in
2006…but do it by the end of 2005. Originally passed in 2002 and
extended to the 2004 and 2005 calendar years, the tax law allows an “above-the-line”
federal tax deduction for teachers for the first $250 “out-of-pocket”
you spend on instructional materials and classroom supplies. But the current
deduction expires on December 31. To read about efforts underway to make
the tax deduction permanent, visit the National Education Association
(NEA) website (http://www.nea.org/lac/edtax/index.html).

Creative,
Quick, and Easy Holiday Lesson Plans Are Just a Click Away for NSTA Members

Ornament lab. Christmas and
Physics. Frosty the Photon Song. These are just a few of the ideas discussed
in recent days on NSTA’s members-only Listservs. Subscribers ask
questions and share information about topics that are important to them
and receive answers they can use from others with first-hand experience.

NSTA Members who subscribe
(at no extra cost!) can now select from 11 topic areas: biology, chemistry,
computer science, Earth science, elementary, environmental science, general
science, physical science, physics, and technology education, and our
newest Listserv—new teacher. This virtual networking community is
available 24/7 to NSTA members. Take a look; you’ll be glad you
did! To subscribe, visit http://www.nsta.org/listserver
for complete details. Not a member? Join today. Visit http://www.nsta.org/memcategories.

Perspectives
on Research, Trends, and Best Practices in Science Ed Explored in Newest
NSTA Press Title

Teaching Science
in the 21st Century is a collection of 21 provocative essays from
NSTA Press and the National Science Education Leadership Association,
presenting a fresh look at the latest research, trends, and best practices
that science teachers and science education leaders can use, organized
around five themes: Learning, Leadership, Professional Development, Science
Classroom, and Building Partnerships and Collaboration. Important reading
for science educators from K-College. To browse the book online and to
order, visit http://store.nsta.org/showItem.asp?product=PB195X.
As always, NSTA members receive a 20% discount on the retail price of
NSTA Press titles.

Analyze your questioning techniques and greatly improve them with
the December NSTA Press online special book: How to ... Ask the
Right Questions. Order by month-end for a 30% discount...online
only! For more information, go to http://www.nsta.org/onlinespecial.

Professional
development courses in your future?Online options give you a world of choice.
Take a look at these institutions
offering courses for science educators!_________________________________________________________________________________________

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